The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1417, 18 April 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1881.

A large number of excursionists availed themselves of the fine weather and numerous coaches plying to the county town yesterday afternoon and this morning, most of them doubtless attracted thither to witness the two days' programme of the Hokifcika Easter race meeting, at which 200 sovereigns (100 each day) are advertised to be competed for by the best horses at present in the district, the principal events being the Hokitika Handicap of 50 sovs., and the Westland Handicap of 50 sovs. And among the passengers were the ten Kumara Volunteers who distinguished themselves in the rifle match with Hokitika on the Kumara range on Friday last. It appears that the Greymouth Rangers again turned shy, stating that it would not be practicable to get their team together to-day. On hearing this a return match with the First Westland Rifles was arranged, and would be fired at the Hokitika butts this morning ; the Kumara team having started on their journey shortly after 6 a.m. We understand that his Worship the Mayor has been requested to call a public meeting to consider the new regulations relative to the occupation of the Education Reserve for mining and other purposes. The annual meeting of the Kumara Benevolent Society will be held at the Town Hall this evening, when the report and balance-sheet for the past year will be submitted. As it is intended at this meeting to bring forward a motion for the extension of the operations of the soeiety so as to include Dillman's Town and Larrikins, it is hoped that this meeting will be well represented by persons who sympathise with the means adopted for rendering succour in time of need to the infirm and the destitute. The Hibernian Society's annual ball takes place to-night, when it is expected there will be a large gathering of those who delight to " Come, and trip it as you go, On the light fantastic toe." The arrangements at the Adelphi Hall are all that could be desired to secure comfort and convenience to those who attend, and a pleasant evening's enjoyment may be looked for. The Georgia Minstrels entertainment takes place at the Theatre Royal this evening. The drawing of Mr Gilbert Stewart's consultation on the Sydney Gold Cup is postponed till to-morrow for various reasons, the chief one being that in consequence of the holiday at the post offices, the returns are not all yet to hand. The race also will not be run till Wednesday next, the 20th inst. But those who are intending to speculate will have an opportunity to-night, either by purchasing tickets right off or investing in sweeps for tickets at the old Clarendon Hotel. The final deposit of £IOO over the match between Lillipie and Dandy was made at M'Gaffin's Hotel, Reef ton, on Tuesday last. £IOO a-side had been previously staked, and the last instalment was made as above in accordance with the articles of the match. The two horses have been under careful training for some weeks past, and both are reported to be in firstclass fettle. We learn that a foul murder has been committed at a place called Larry's, near Boatman's Creek, Reefton, the victim being a man named Bell, who had a small farm there. Bell, it appears, was found

in his cow-house lying on the ground with his brains blown out. The suspected person is one M'Gahey, generally known as "Yankee Dave," and well known here. JealoUsy is said to have been the predisposing cause of the murder; The person Suspected of the murder is missing, and it is supposed he has taken to the ranges; A detective officer and mounted trooper passed through Kumat'adn Saturday night last, to discover the Whereabduts of "Yankee Dave," who is also well known here as a steady industrious man. Private information was received in town yesterday (the Argus says) to the effect that Mrs Monteith, who lost her husband by death recently, had becomeso unhinged in her mind—probably in consequence at her bereavement—that she has been brought down to. Hokitika Asylum for medical treatment. "The Loafer in the Street" (Christchurch Press, April 11) thus comments on the late Lyell Argus and its proprietor My old friend the editor and proprietor of the " Lyell Times," better, perhaps, known aa the "Lyell Argus," has sold out his interest in that celebrated journal. He has been kind enough to send me the valedictory number of the paper which he made so famous; His farewells are very varied. He has a public notice of the sale of the paper, in which he improved the occasion: a leading article, ditto ;' and a very touchingly written farewell article of another sort, concluding as follows : " I am bidding you a long farewell, My many friends, kind and true ; But trust me, 1 shall not forget you, In the land I'm going to. And often, as 'neath the blue gum frees, I sit and rest awhile, My heart will travel back again, And 'my spirit' haunt the Lyell." "I hope 'The Lost Tribe' will not think me personal when I use the word 1 spirit' : Ido not allude to ' The Lyell Spirit,' but to the ' Spirit of "The Lyell Times," His last wave is as beneath : "Notice.—l request that all accounts due to me be paid at once.—T. J. Metcalfe." Those who have been so long amused with the funniments of the mountain editor, reader, printer, machinist, and devil, for he was all these, will be pleased to learn that he is gone to Collingwood, where I have little doubt we shall hear from him again. Mr Metcalfe may feel assured that he has the good wishes of many over here. The river Bradford, a tributary of the Derwent at Alport, Derbyshire, flows above a worked-out mine. The village was amazed the other morning to find that the river had disappeared in the night. Avast chasm is left, and down below, at a great depth, the waters can be seen. Fifty miners are employed on the task of attempting to fill up the chasm with rocks and trees, but up to yesterday the materials cast into the chasm had been carried into the Derwent, into which the stream still finds its way after flowing underground for several miles. For list of prizes in a grand art-union at Hokitika see fourth page.—[Advt.] To those in search of merriment, visit S. S. Pollock'B, and obtain the great Irish song "The Babies in our Block," or "Little Sally Waters"; price sixpence. [Advt.]